Dracula's influence. Part 2. E-games

Nowadays Dracula and his kind, the Vampires have become part of all kinds of entertainment. It’s only natural that videogames would include these characters. There’s a whole series of games based on the Dark Lord’s Legend, where there is at least one vampire or a creature with vampiric powers e.g. the Vampiric Lion in every RPG –Role Playing Game- edition.
A legend among these games is Vampire-the Masquerade. Though I have never actually played it, I’ve read the best comments about it in books and magazines about games and also vampires.
The series that rotates round the legend of Count Dracula is Castlevania. In this game there are enough similarities and differences to write a small book. Yet, I’ll try to be as curt as I can.
Dracula is the fiend that will have abducted or killed a young woman. He transforms only in the ultimate battle. His reformed son, Alucard, who is with the “good guys’ can turn into a wolf, a bat or mist.The areas in the games, such as Subterranean Hell, the Demon Guest House, the Gypsy Village outside the Castle, the Mine of Judgement, the Abyss –the entrance to Hell- are all of close reference to the book. We can easily recognise Dracula’s wherabouts and Johnathan Harker’s dwellings in Transylvania. Dracula can be battled by swords, spears, axes, the holy water and the crusifix. However, he can only be slain by the Vampire Whip. That is why he reappears every hundred years.Technically, the H/P button (Heath/Hit Button) makes it difficult to aim exactly at the opponents neck. So, beheading the fiend is out of the question.
A major difference is the presence of Death, who converses and battles the main hero in every title. Also, areas such as the Garden of Madness, with the carnivorous plants, the Wizard Lab, where mutated creatures are made and a Time-travelling character, bare the influence of our times on the game.
Finally, Dracula’s undeathness, necromancy and above all, untangible mystery has passed on from Stoker’s book to the electronic era.
Costas Papageorgiou, 16

Διαβάστε το κείμενο του Κώστα στα ελληνικά πατώντας τον τίτλο.

St Apostles' fair

In relation to Romania's post yesterday:
One block away from 1o geniko lykeio, there is the church of Agioi Apostoli (Christ's Disciples). The 300-meter-fair on their honour runs in Pindou street, outside our school . A touch of exoticism, sounds, smells and colours attract the crowd's attention. Click on the image to see more photos.
Many thanks to mlemo for the pics

Πατήστε στην εικόνα για να περιηγηθείτε το πανηγύρι των Αγίων Αποστόλων, έξω από το σχολείο μας. Ευχαριστούμε τον mlemo για τις φωτογραφίες.

ST PETER & PAUL'S DAY DRIVES THE WOLVES AWAY!

"Listen to them. The children of the night. What music they make!" (famous Dracula quote)

"All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had hadsome peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, andlooked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful tosee. But the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side,and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachmanto come [...]How he camethere, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway.As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then aheavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again in darkness." Dracula, chapter 11

[1] June 29th: Saint Peter of the summer (The celebration of wolves) - Saints Peter and Pavel stay on the moon, one on the right and the other on the left side. St. Peter is the keeper of the keys from the Heaven gate and rooms. He is also God’s right hand. Peter is the one who commands the hail and he is the patron of the farmers.Saints Peter and Pavel celebration lasts for three days. A legend goes that once upon a time, while the saints walked on the earth, they entered a pub. A lot of people partied in there and they convinced the saints join them. After they had danced and partied, the two saints realized they didn’t like it and they decided to punish the people for having attracted them in their party. So the saints decided that people should fast on their day.The glow-worms appear on St. Peter’s day. These are the sparks fallen on the earth after the saint whips. St. Peters send the glow-worms in order to guide the one who are lost in the woods.The dead ones are remembered on this day, which is also celebrated for keeping the wolves away from the cattle

.29 iunie: San-Petru de Vara (Sarbatoarea lupilor) - Sfintii Petru si Pavel stau pe luna, de-o parte si de alta a acesteia. Sf. Petru este detinatorul cheilor de la poarta si de la incaperile Raiului, dar si mana dreapta a lui Dumnezeu. Petru este cel care stapaneste piatra, grindina si este patronul agricultorilor.Sarbatoarea sfintilor Petru si Pavel se tine timp de trei zile.O legenda spune ca odata, in timp ce sfintii se aflau pe pamant, au intrat intr-o carciuma. Au gasit acolo o multime de oameni in mijlocul unei petreceri si s-au alaturat si ei jocului. Dupa ce au obosit, si-au dat seama ca nu le-a placut si, pentru a-i pedepsi pe oamenii care i-au facut sa petreaca, au hotarat ca de ziua lor sa se posteasca.La Sanpetru de vara apar licuricii. Acestia sunt de fapt scanteile cazute pe pamant dupa ce sfantul plesneste din biciul sau. Sf. Petru trimite licuricii pentru a-i indruma pe cei pierduti in padure.In aceasta zi se fac pomeni pentru cei morti (Mosii de Sanpetru).Oamenii respecta ziua Sf. Petru si pentru a tine lupii departe de animale.


Anka's and Alexandra's work.

Θαυμάσιες ρουμανικές λαογραφικές διηγήσεις για την Ημέρα των Αγίων Πέτρου και Παύλου.
Πιστεύεται ότι οι Άγιοι κάθονται στο φεγγάρι, δεξιά και αριστερά. Ο Πέτρος έχει και τα κλειδιά του Παραδείσου. Από το χτύπημα του μαστιγίου του βγαίνουν πυγολαμπίδες για να βλέπει ο κόσμος μέσα στο δάσος τη νύχτα. Η νηστεία της ημέρας ανάγεται στην εποχή που οι Άγιοι περπατούσαν ανάμεσα στους ανθρώπους, και μπήκαν σε ένα καπηλειό, όπου προσκλήθηκαν να γλεντήσουν. Οι ακρότητες όμως των θαμώπων τους δυσαρέστησαν και έκτοτε επέβαλαν νηστεία κάθε τέτοια μέρα. Οι εορτασμοί στη Ρουμανία κρατάνε τρεις μέρες. Επίσης είναι μέρα μνήμης των νεκρών, όπου θεωρείται ότι οι λύκοι κρατιούνται μακριά από τα κοπάδια.

Ο Κόμης ορίζει τα νυχτόβια ζώα με την ίδια ευκολία που διαφεντεύει τα στοιχεία της φύσεως. Ένας ήμερος λύκος του ζωολογικού κήπου, γίνεται όργανό του για να εισβάλει στο σπίτι της Λούσυ και να την δαγκώσει.

The Count reigns upon the animals of the night as well as nature's forces. See how tame the wolf he used to enter Lucy's bedroom really is:

"That 'ere wolf what we called Bersicker was one of three grayones that came from Norway to Jamrach's, which we boughtoff him four years ago. He was a nice well-behaved wolf,that never gave no trouble to talk of. I'm more surprisedat 'im for wantin' to get out nor any other animile in the place. But, there, you can't trust wolves no more nor women."

Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι πριν "καταληφθεί" από το πνεύμα του κακού, ο μεγάλος λύκος του ζωολογικού κήπου είχε χαρακτηριστεί από τον φύλακα "ένα ζώο ήρεμο που δε δημιουργούσε προβλήματα". Αυτό σε ένα κείμενο του 1897, πολύ πριν απενοχοποιηθεί ο κακός λύκος των παραμυθιών. Η σκηνή που επιτίθεται στη μάνα και κόρη αποτελεί μακρινό απόηχο των γερμανικών λαογραφικών παραδόσεων (βλ. Κοκκινοσκουφίτσα)

MINA'S typewriter!

"That is a wonderful machine,but it is cruelly true. It told me, in its very tones, the anguish of your heart. It was like a soul crying out to Almighty God. No one must hear them spoken ever again! See, I have tried to be useful. I have copied out the words on my typewriter, and none other need now hear your heart beat, as I did."
Dracula, chapter 17
A while ago we found an unexpected vintage item in the school's basement. A ROYAL 10 typing machine! Students removed Time's dusty traces from it, took pictures and navigated to find more. This heavy american-made machine was so strong, they used to throw it in crates from airplanes to prove it doesn't break! Read all about it here. Although the make goes back to 1914 as a termimus post quem, we like to see it as Mina's typing machine in our library!

Την άνοιξη ανακαλύψαμε τυχαία στο υπόγειο του σχολείου τη θαυμάσια αντίκα της φωτογραφίας. Μια γραφομηχανή ROYAL 10 με την παλιά ταινία της ακόμα κουλουριασμένη. Οι μαθητές αφαίρεσαν με προσοχή τα σημάδια του χρόνου, τη φωτογράφησαν, έρχονταν να την περιεργαστούν και έψαξαν στο Ίντερνετ για πληροφορίες. Ήταν τόσο ανθεκτική, που την έριχναν για επίδειξη σε κιβώτια από τα αεροπλάνα και δεν έσπαγε! Αν και η πρώτη κατασκευάστηκε στην Αμερική το 1914, θέλουμε να την βλέπουμε σαν τη γραφομηχανή της Μίνα από το Δράκουλα. Περισσότερα εδώ.

WebQuest

e-learning has become more than usual in modern life, so I decided to try to adapt a specific WebQuest to our specific needs and to use it.
This is the link. It was impossible to find out a free hosting so...I used a different medium. Hope it will be on your taste.

WORLD DAY FOR BLOOD DONATION

Blood is a key word in the novel we are reading.

In a gothic novel such as Bram's Stoker's Dracula it is the substance for eternal life.

In the real world blood donation is a simple way to save a life.

Click on the image to see how Albanian-born Aris's poster has become a multi-languange message for blood donation.

Το αίμα, λέξη-σύμβολο μέσα στο μυθιστόρημα του Μπραμ Στόουκερ, είναι κομιστής ζωής, αθανασίας, ερωτισμού αλλά και μεταδοτικων ασθενειών.

Σήμερα, Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Αιμοδοσίας, το αίμα γίνεται πηγή ζωής και σύμβολο ανθρωπισμού. Ο Άρης, μέλος της Αναγνωστικής Λέσχης έφτιαξε τη σχετική αφίσα. Πατώντας επάνω, βλέπετε την εκδοχή της στα αγγλικά, ρουματικά και ελληνικά.

George is studying for his exams. In a break he drawed this for us...

"The blood is the life!"- Bram Stoker, Chapter 11, Dracula

Dracula's influence. Part 1. Vampirism

ΒΑΜΠΙΡΙΣΜΟΣ

ΤΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ
Είναι η αντίληψη ενός ανθρώπου ότι είναι βαμπίρ , κατά συνέπεια ότι χρειάζεται ανθρώπινο αίμα για να επιβιώσει.. Ως κίνημα εμφανίστηκε στην Ευρώπη αλλά κυρίως στην Αμερική τον 21ο αιώνα.
Βαμπίρ συνήθως δηλώνουν νέοι από 14 ετών αλλά και ενήλικες . Είναι συχνά άτομα περιθωριοποιημένα που νιώθουν διαφορετικά και πολλές φορές κατώτερα . Έχουν την ανάγκη να νιώσουν ξεχωριστά , μέλη μιας μυστικής κοινωνίας . Συχνά είναι οπαδοί παιχνιδιών και ταινιών με ανάλογο θέμα .
ΤΙ ΣΥΜΒΟΛΙΖΕΙ
Το βαμπίρ είναι σύμβολο εξουσίας , σεξουαλικότητας και σαγήνης . Το άτομο που επιθυμεί να έχει αυτά τα προσόντα υιοθετώντας την ταυτότητα του βαμπίρ νιώθει ότι τα αποκτά .
Η αιμοποσία συμβολίζει την κυριαρχία σε ένα άτομο – θύμα , αλλά και την οικειότητα ανάμεσα στους «μαύρους κύκνους» δηλαδή ένα ζευγάρι βαμπίρ που ανταλλάζουν αίμα ως μέρος του τελετουργικού ζευγαρώματος .
ΜΕΘΟΔΟΙ ΑΦΑΙΜΑΞΗΣ
Τα βαμπίρ χρησιμοποιούν σακοράφες η μικρά ξυράφια για να κάνουν εγκοπές μικρού μήκους σε εκόντες φίλους η συντρόφους . Ωστόσο έχουν υπάρξει καταγεγραμμένα περιστατικά ατόμων με ψυχικές διαταραχές που έχουν διαπράξει φόνους με σκοπό την αφαίμαξη και δηλώνουν βαμπίρ .

Τα παραπάνω είναι απόδοση του ντοκιμαντέρ «ΒΑΜΠΙΡΙΣΜΟΣ» που προβλήθηκε από τον ραδιοτηλεοπτικό σταθμό ΣΚΑΙ της ελληνικής τηλεόρασης το Σαββάτο 31 Μαΐου στις 00.30.
Αντώνης Θεοφυλακτίδης, Β1, μέλος Βιβλιοθήκης

Vampirism
Library member Antonis Theofylaktidis watched a documentary on Greek TV and wrote a summary for our project:
What is Vampirism:
It is a person’s belief that they are vampires, and that they need human blood to survive. As a social phenomenon it appeared in Europe and the USA in the 21st century.
Mainly 14-year-old teenagers declare to be vampires not excepting adult men and women. They usually are rejected people with an inferiority complex, who feel different than others.They need to feel special, they need to belong to a mystical society. They are usually fans of Dracula films or Vampire e-games.
What does it symbolize:
The vampire is a symbol of power, of sexuality and seduction. By identifying with a Vampire, the individual feels he adopts these traits.
Blood-drinking symbolizes the domination of the victim, but also the sense of familiarity shared among “black-swans” i.e. a pair of vampires who exchange blood as part of their lovemaking.
Blood-draining techniques:
Big needles of razors are used to make small cuts on willing partners. There have, however, been cases of disturbed people who call themselves Vampires and have committed murders in order to drink their victims’ blood.

CE este Vampirismul?:
Este credinta ca exista vampiri, si ca ei au nevoie de sange omenesc pentru a supravietui. Ca fenomen social a aparut in Europa si Statele Unite in secolul 21.
Majoritatea adolescentilor declara faca exceptie ca exista vampire. In general acestia sunt persoane ce au dezvoltat un complex de inferioritate si se simt respinsi de ceilalti pe motiv ca sunt diferiti. Ei trebuie sa se simta speciali, sa apartina unei societati mistice. Sunt de obicei fani ai filmelor cu Dracula sau a jocurilor e-games.
Ce simbolizeaza?
Vampirul este simbolul puterii, al sexualitatii si seductiei. Individul care se identifica cu un vampir pare sa adopte trasaturile acestuia.
A bea sangele victimei simbolizeaza de fapt, dominatia acesteia, dar in acelasi timp si familiaritatea pe care o impartasesc “lebedele negre”, o pereche de vampiri care schimba sange ca parte a ritualului lor erotic.

First of June - children's celebration

"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he added,"Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the hunter." (from Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued - Chapter 2)



In the First of June we celebrate in Romania, the Children day. It is in the same time an invitation to remember the magic of the Childhood’s fairy tales.
In Targoviste – there is a festival of the living dolls. You can also admire the results of the graffiti competition in which an important represented was the figure of Vlad the Impaler and his habit, impaling....


© Pictures taken by our students

Treasure from Romania

Not long ago we sent our frienship gifts to Romania.

Among others were included:

1. A silver boat for you to visit us.

2. A mask so that you can see our true face behind it

3. Old (drachme) and new greek coins (euro) to see both sides of things and the old and new element.

4. Bookmarks, so that you always find your way in our common books.

5. The school newspaper

6. Gadgets from the National Book Center of Greece

7. A documentary about our town called The Mourning Rock

8. Dracula teeth, worn in the Greek Carnival, were people dress-up.

9. A hand-made card with a wreath of branches from our schoolyard's trees.

(Suggestions and symbolism by the Greek Reading Club)

All things have a symbolic meaning and are related to our book.

Yesterday we received a parcel from ION GHICA Colegiul Economic.

To our delight it contained a Treasure from Romania. The handwritten letter read:

"Dear friends,

thank you fro your gifts and we hope you enjoy what we sent you.

The bracelets are made with our very hands in the colors of the Romanian flag. Alexandra made a doll from a wooden spoon and we hope it will put you a smile upon your faces. The rings represent the connection between Romania and Greece.

We wanted to stick to the theme so we bought lots of things about Dracula.

Best wishes

Diana, Anea, Denisa, Alexandra, Mihaela, Alina, Ioana and Ms Carmen"

You can see from the photo, that it did put a smile on our faces, Alexandra!

Our members are wearing your bracelets.

We cannot thank you enough for the treasure!

Οι συνεργάτες αντάλλαξαν μέσα στο Μάιο πακέτα με δώρα διαλεγμένα από τα μέλη των Αναγνωστικών Λεσχών, ώστε να έχουν συμβολική σημασία π.χ. ένα καραβάκι όχι μόνο θυμίζει το ταξίδι του Δράκουλα στην Αγγλία αλλά αποτελεί πρόσκληση για Ελλάδα, τα νομίσματα παραπέμπουν στο θησαυρό του Δράκουλα αλλά δείχνουν το παλιό και το νέο, που αποτελεί και θέμα του βιβλίου, κ.ο.κ. Από τη Ρουμανία λάβαμε ολόκληρο θησαυρό με αναμνηστικά του Targoviste. Τα δακτυλίδια είναι ο σύνδεσμος μεταξύ μας, και οι μαθητές μας ήδη φοράνε τα χειροποίητα βραχιόλια στα χρώματα της Ρουμανικής σημαίας!

On the left, Muslum is trying the yo-yo you sent!

Αριστερά, ο Μουσλούμ δοκιμάζει το πάντα δημοφιλές γιο-γιο. Τα δώρα από τη Ρουμανία είναι αντικείμενα θαυμασμού από καθηγητές και μαθητές, και φέρνουν κόσμο στη Βιβλιοθήκη.

May 21: Constantine Starling (Constantine of the Chickens)

In Dracula there are not excerpts related to this day, but we wouldn't pass over because we had celebrate our twiners - Helen and Costas. So I insert this post especially because in Romania has a special meaning - the bird which is teaching their sons to fly. I think the image is relevant for what is happens between teacher and their students.


May 21: Constantine Starling (Constantine of the Chickens)
Saints Constantine and Helen celebration from the Orthodox calendar coincides in the folk tradition with the moment when it is believed that the birds teach the chicken how to fly. Constantine Starling is the patron of the forest birds. People don’t work on his day, being afraid of the birds which damage the crops.
This is generally the last day when corn, oat and millet are seeded.

Η ημέρα των ισαποστόλων Κων/νου και Ελένης, είναι για τη Ρουμανία η ημέρα των Πτηνών. Απαγορεύεται το κυνήγι τους, γιατί θεωρείται ότι μαθαίνουν τα μικρά τους να πετάνε. (Πολύ ωραίος ο παραλληλισμός της ρουμάνας μαθήτριας στα σχόλια με τη διδασκαλία και το άνοιγμα των φτερών των μαθητών). Στην Ελλάδα έχουμε τα αναστενάρια, για τα οποία παραπέμπουμε στο Ίντερνετ. Ευχαριστούμε τους συνεργάτες μας για τις ευχές τους!

21 Mai: Constantin Graur (Constandinu Puilor)
Sarbatoarea Sfintilor Constantin si Elena din calendarul ortodox coincide in traditia populara cu momentul in care se crede ca pasarile isi invata puii sa zboare. Constantin Graur este patronul pasarilor din paduri, iar de ziua sa nu se lucreaza, fiind pericol ca recoltele sa fie distruse de acestea.
Aceasta este de obicei ultima zi in care se mai seamana porumb, ovaz si mei.

" On 19 of May he put me to write some letters for my friends...." HERE THE excerpt that anticipate the next month celebrations...


ANASTENARIA (Firewalking)







Library post:
Up north in Greece, in Salonica and Serres, people celebrate St Constantine's and Eleni's Day by Firewalking. After praying and preparing mentally, they tred on fire without getting burnt. This is no hoax or hysterical behaviour. People actually believe the saints preserve them from fire. "Anastenaria" means to sigh during the process. More about the custom here.

Διαβάστε για αναστενάρια με την ευκαιρία της γιορτής των Αγίων Κων/νου και Ελένης εδώ.

Listen to today's entry in Greek

Today is the part where, by the book, the captive Johnathan Harker watches Dracula climb outside the tower window, downwards, like a lizard. One of the strongest moments of the book that forebodes the unnatural character of the Count.

Πατήστε εδώ για την ανάγνωση του αποσπάσματος όπου ο Δράκουλας κατεβαίνει από το παράθυρο του πύργου σαν σαύρα! Διαβάζει μέλος της Αναγνωστικής μας Λέσχης,
Click here for the passage in Greek by a member of our bookclub!

MOTHERHOOD in DRACULA

"I went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat, which had evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep. Presently the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my moving thatI was not asleep, she came in and sat by me. She said to me evenmore sweetly and softly than her wont, "I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see thatyou were all right." I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her to come in and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and laydown beside me." From Lucy Westerna's memorandum. Click here for the ecxerpt in Greek.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Η ευάλωτη κα Ουέστερνα, μητέρα της Λούσυ, είναι παράδειγμα της βικτοριανής ιδανικής μητέρας. Το τέλος της είναι χαρακτηριστικό γοτθικού μυθιστορήματος. Παθαίνει καρδιακή προσβολή βλέποντας το λύκο να επιτίθεται ακολουθώντας τις επιταγές του Δράκουλα. Μητέρα και κόρη παραμένουν ενωμένες στον τρόμο. Η μητέρα στην Ρουμανία γιορτάζεται μαζί με την ημέρα της Γυναίκας, στις 7 Μαρτίου.

Anecdotes

Diana has searched and collected some of the ANECDOTES that are almost universal in Vlad Dracula literature.
They include the following:

1.The Golden Cup
2.The Burning of the Sick and Poor
3.The Foreign Ambassadors
4.The Foreign Merchant
5.The Lazy Woman
6.The Nobleman with the Keen Sense of Smell
7.Vlad Dracula's Mistress
8.The Polish Nobleman
9.The Two Monks

1. Vlad Dracula was known throughout his land for his fierce insistence on honesty and order. Thieves seldom dared practice their trade within his domain, for they knew that the stake awaited any who were caught. Vlad was so confident in the effectiveness of his law that he laced a golden cup on display in the central square of Tirgoviste. The cup was never stolen and remained entirely unmolested throughout Vlad Dracula's reign.

2. Vlad Dracula was very concerned that all his subjects work and contribute to the common welfare. He once notice that the poor, vagrants, beggars and cripples had become very numerous in his land. Consequently, he issued an invitation to all the poor and sick in Wallachia to come to Tirgoviste for a great feast, claiming that no one should go hungry in his land. As the poor and crippled arrived in the city they were ushered into a great hall where a fabulous feast was prepared for them. The guests ate and drank late into the night. Vlad himself then made an appearance and asked them, "What else do you desire? Do you want to be without cares, lacking nothing in this world?" When they responded positively Vlad ordered the hall boarded up and set on fire. None escaped the flames. Vlad explained his action to the boyars by claiming that he did this "in order that they represent no further burden to other men, and that no one will be poor in my realm."
Source: http://www.donlinke.com/drakula/vlad.htm#Anecdotes
You can read entire document following this LINK

Ο Βλαντ Τέπες Ντράκουλα ήταν ένα πολύ σκληρό άτομο. Παλούκωνε και ακρωτηρίαζε άτομα για λόγους που θα φαίνονταν παράλογοι ή αμελητέοι., όπως όταν κατέκαψε την αίθουσα όπου είχε συγκεντρώσει τους φτωχούς και τους ζητιάνους στην προσπάθειά του να δημιουργήσει το τέλειο κράτος. Αν και διοικούσε το λαό του με μεγάλη αποτελεσματικότητα, χρησιμοποιούσε το φόβο των ανθρώπων για την επίτευξη της τάξης. Από την άλλη πλευρά, όμως, αντάμοιβε τους έντιμους ανθρώπους, πράγμα που δείχνει και την δίκαιη πλευρά του. Τον θεωρώ μια πολύ σημαντική και ενδιαφέρουσα προσωπικότητα, γιατί είναι αντιφατικός μιας και μπορεί να φανεί τόσο σκληρός, όσο και δίκαιος. Κώστας Παπαγεωργίου, 16

Let's chat about FEAR!

Today's chat with Targoviste was about Fear. Here are some of the questions to bear in mind. Σήμερα μιλήσαμε με τους συνεργάτες μας πάνω στο φόβο. Μερικά ερωτήματα πάνω στο θέμα:
1. Why do people love horror films? Γιατί ο κόσμος αρέσκεται στις ταινίες τρόμου; DE CE le plac oamenilor filmele horror?
2. What is your worst fear? Τι φοβάστε περισσότερο; Care este cea mai mare frica a voastra?
3. Why are people afraid of the dead? Γιατί οι περισσότεροι άνθρωποι φοβούνται τους νεκρούς; DE CE se tem oamenii de moarte?
4. Which part of Dracula is the more horrific? Ποιο σημείο του βιβλίου θεωρείτε πιο τρομακτικό; Care parte din Dracula vi se pare mai inspaimantatoare?
Also to be concidered Ακόμα:
5. Are there "real" and "unreal" fears? What does your fear stand for? Υπάρχουν πραγματικοί και πλαστοί φόβοι; Τι συμβολίζουν οι δεύτεροι; Putem spune ca frica este reala sau ireala? Ce anume face ca temerea voastra sa supravietuiasca?
6. Who profits from people's fear? Ποιος έχει να κερδίσει από το φόβο των ανθρώπων; CINE profita de pe urma temerilor noastre?

We chatted in English, Greek, Romanian and really had fun!
Click here for a basic Romanian vocabulary and here for a Greek one!
Fear. It's the monster lurking deep inside the labyrinth of everyone's mind. You keep it in the darkness but you have to confront it, to understand it. Only then can you liberate yourself from it.
Andonis Theophylactidis' , 17, bookpresentation of dr Riemman's "Grundformenn der Angst". Click here to read it.
Φόβος. Είναι ο Μινώταυρος στο λαβύρινθο της ψυχής μας. Τον κρύβουμε, τον αποφεύγουμε αλλά μόνο όταν τον αντιμετωπίσουμε, θα τον κατανοήσουμε και θα απελευθερωθούμε.
Βιβλιοπαρουσίαση του Αντώνη Θεοφυλακτίδη, 17, στην "Τετραλογία του Φόβου" του Φριτς Ρίμαν. Πατήστε εδώ.

The day it all began!

On May 3rd, a young aspiring sollicitor named Johnathan Harker travels to Romania to meet count Dracula on business. On meeting the mysterious Count, he will encounter Evil personnified and will embark on an whirlpool adventure that will put him and his beloved to the ultimate test. This is how one of the most famous books of Gothic literature starts. Bram Stoker's Dracula has influenced twentieth century culture with its strong archetypical characters and hidden meanings. Click here for a slideshow with the classic Dracula bookcovers. Find out what else happened today in our comments!
Ο Δράκουλας, το κλασικό βιβλίο του Ιρλανδού Μπραμ Στόκερ, ανοίγει στην σημερινή ημερομηνία, όπως γράφει στο ημερολόγιό του ο νεαρός συμβολαιογράφος Τζόναθαν Χάρκερ, που ταξιδεύει στη Ρουμανία για να προωθήσει την αγορά ακινήτου στην Αγγλία από τον μυστηριώδη κόμη Δράκουλα. Έτσι αρχίζει το πιο διάσημο βιβλίο της λογοτεχνίας τρόμου, που είχε τόση επιρροή στον εικοστό αιώνα και ακόμα απασχολεί με τα αρχέτυπα και τους συμβολισμούς του. Πατήστε εδώ για μερικά κλασικά εξώφυλλα του βιβλίου.

Dracula key words. Let us unlock the text!

Book reference: "Just as I had come to this conclusion I heard a heavy step approaching behind the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam of a coming light. Then there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of massive bolts drawn back. A key was turned with the loud grating noise of long disuse, and the great door swung back." Johnathan Harker's journal, continued (chapter 2)
AND WHO DO YOU THINK WILL APPEAR BEHIND THAT GREAT DOOR?
Superstition, fear, vampire, transfusion, eternity, desire, friendship, loyalty, faith, death, soil, egotism.
Some of the key words sought in the online dictionary by Christina Kanellopoulou, B class. Click here to see the definitions and hear their pronunciation.
Please add your own key-words, so we can discuss them in our chat.

Local costumes and customs. Dracula's kitchen

Book reference:
"At every station there were groups of people, sometimes crowds, and in all sorts of attire. Some of them were just like the peasants at home or those I saw coming through France and Germany, with short jackets, and round hats, and home-made trousers; but others were very picturesque.



The women looked pretty [...] They had all full white sleeves of some kind or other, and most of them had big belts with a lot of strips of something fluttering from them like the dresses in a ballet, but of course there were petticoats under them.
The strangest figures we saw were the Slovaks, who were more barbarian than the rest, with their big cow-boy hats, great baggy dirty-white trousers, white linen shirts, and enormous heavy leather belts, nearly a foot wide, all studded over with brass nails. They wore high boots, with their trousers tucked into them, and had long black hair and heavy black moustaches. They are very picturesque, but do not look prepossessing." Johnathan Harker's diary.


The folkloric element is apparent in the first chapters of Dracula. Costumes, food and customs are mentioned. Can you tell the difference between Greek and Romanian traditional costumes in the photos? Hint: The hat gives away the Transylvanian folk!
Yesterday was Easter Day and it is customary in Greece to have folklore dances in such attires.



DRACULA'S KITCHEN
"The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable." Dracula, chapter 1.

"This man, Johnathan, is certainly a gourmet" remarked Nancy from the Greek Reading Club. "All he is interested in writing in his diary is what dishes he tasted". Ah, yes. But the scenery gradually becomes gothic during the long hours of sinister hospitality in Count Dracula's castle.
Back at the inn, Johnathan tasted the Transylvanian cuisine. The girls from Targoviste showed us that traditional dishes remain the same from Stoker's time. Click here to see their "succulent" work.
"Αυτός ο Τζόναθαν, όλο τρώει. Δεν τον ενδιαφέρει τίποτε άλλο στο ημερολόγιό του" ήταν η αρχική αντίδραση της Νάνσυ στην Ελευσίνα. Αργότερα, θα δηλώσει ότι πράγματι η κανονικότητα του ταξιδευτή ανατρέπεται με την απίστευτη έκβαση της ιστορίας στο κάστρο του κόμη Δράκουλα. Ήταν όμως μια ευκαιρία να ζητήσουμε και να πάρουμε πληροφορίες από τις φίλες μας στην Τρανσυλβανία για την τοπική κουζίνα. Πατήστε εδώ για να δείτε πόσο λίγο άλλαξαν τα πράγματα από την εποχή που γράφτηκε το μυθιστόρημα του Στόκερ (1897)

GARLIC: drives away vampires and toothache!
"Garlic Remedy
1 garlic clove Place a slice of peeled garlic to the affected tooth to ease the pain. Or cut a clove in half and hold one piece on each side of a tooth that is aching. A folk remedy using garlic asks for holding a peeled garlic clove in the bend of each knee. If you have delicate skin, wrap the cloves in a soft cloth. Also, loose teeth may be made tight again by rinsing the mouth morning and evening with a good strong garlic tea" More of the Romanian team's work here!

Nancy, from the Greek team found the recipe for the ever-popular skordalia, the greek garlic sauce that drives vampires, as well as everybody else away!

Σκόρδο: Το παρεξηγημένο φάρμακο

Η ομάδα της Ρουμανίας βρήκε συνταγές ξεχασμένες για την ίαση του πονόδοντου ή τη στοματική υγιεινή με τη χρήση ωμού σκόρδου. Πατήστε εδώ. Η Νάνσυ κοινοποιεί τη συνταγή της δημοφιλέστατης στη χώρα μας σκορδαλιάς, αποτρεπτικής όχι μόνο απέθαντων, αλλά και των ζωντανών που περιστοιχίζουν όποιον τη φάει!

Striving against Evil

On Good Thursday, we paint our easter eggs red, for the blood Christ shed for humanity, just as in Romania. In a couple of hours the churchbells will ring sadly, as the Holy Bible is read about the cruxifiction.
Here is the Dracula excerpt of the day:
“…we bear our Cross, as His Son did in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are chosen instruments of His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His bidding as that other through stripes and shame. Through tears and blood. Through doubts and fear, and all that makes the difference between God and man."Van Helsing's bad english doesn't shadow the christian forebearance he prompts Mina and Johnathan to show in their darkest hour: that of hunting count Dracula on his own grounds in Romania.
What are the "good guys'" other weapons against evil?

Μεγάλη Πέμπτη σήμερα, και στις δύο χώρες βάφουμε τα αβγά κόκκινα σαν ενθύμηση της θυσίας του Χριστού. Σε λίγο θα αρχίσουν να χτυπάνε πένθιμα οι καμπάνες της Ακολουθίας των Παθών. Απόσπασμα από το βιβλίο του Στόκερ: «…φέρουμε τον δικό μας σταυρό, όπως ο Υιός έκανε υπακούοντας τον Πατέρα. Μπορεί να είμαστε τα όργανα της θελήσεώς Του, και έχουμε πάρει τον ανήφορο κατά την εντολή Του, μέσα από τη ντροπή, αίμα και δάκρυα, μέσα από τις αμφιβολίες και το φόβο και ό,τι αποτελεί τη διαφορά μεταξύ Θεού και ανθρώπου.»
Ποια νομίζετε ότι είναι τα όπλα του Βαν Χέλσινγκ και της ομάδας του κατά του κακού;

Happy Easter for our Twinners!!!!

Easter in Romania



Easter in Romania is celebrated according to the rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Friday before the Easter is called the Great Friday or the Friday of sufferings, as it is the day when Jesus was crucified. On Saturday, people go to church for the midnight mass, taking with them a bowl of Pasca, eggs and steak, where these aliments are blessed by the clergy. On returning home from the mass, people first eat some of the sanctified aliments and only then the rest.

Starting with Holy Thursday, people start painting eggs in a multitude of colors. The predominant color is red, but other colors are also applied - yellow, green, blue and even black. Decorated eggs or 'oua incondeiate' are an integral part of Easter celebration in Romania. The eggs are decorated using a stick of wood.





The special Easter cake, known as Pasca, is baked on Great Thursday. The Pasca can have a round shape (reminding little Jesus' diapers) or a rectangular one (the shape of His grave). The shells of the eggs used for the Pasca are thrown in a river. This action stems from the ancient belief that the shells are taken by the river to the country of the Good People, announcing them the Easter has came.




In some regions (Bucovina, Transylvania), there is a tradition called "the wetting". On Monday morning, the boys take a bucket of water and go to the houses of the unmarried girls. If they found them sleeping, the boys throw water on them. As it is believed that those girls will marry soon, they reward the boys who had wetted them by giving them the most beautiful decorated eggs and Pasca or cake.

ST GEORGE'S DAY

"It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?" The Romanian peasant-woman's warning goes unheeded by Johnathan Harker, the young lawyer about to meet count Dracula.
Contrary to the book, in which St George's day is on May 5th, the patron saint of Elefsina is celebrated in all Greece on the 23th of April. This year, in order not to coincide with the Passion Week, the nameday is celebrated on Monday after Easter.
Local customs, such as horse races are held in many Greek regions, in honour of the saint. Click .here to see the church of St George in our town

As well as the Greek people, we celebrate in Romania St. George every year at a different day (It depends on Easter day). Here are some excerpts in Romanian and English concerning the Romanian calendar, as mentioned in the book. Romanian team's work.